The 25 Best Batman Graphic Novels of All Time, Ranked

This modern Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo classic seemed like a big swing, introducing new evil versions of DC superheroes. Batman is in full Detective mode in this one and the series gave us the debut of The Batman Who Laughs. 

This novel actually isn't really about Batman so much as it is about the city he calls home and the police force he regularly bails out. The story really focuses on Jim Gordon and was the inspiration for the Gotham TV show and the upcoming GCPD show. 

This is a really unique Batman story for a few reasons. First, we don't see traditional Batman villains as the main foe, but instead a vicious cult. This book also features fan-favorite Robin with Jason Todd in the role, which is only the case in very few stories before Jason becomes The Red Hood. 

Batman stories tend to give us a little bit of everything. There are honestly Batman stories that would fall under probably a half dozen or more different genres. This story features a noir Detective Batman - a superhero named Humphrey Bogart. This is also one of the many stories on this list to inspire an animated feature. 

This isn't an Eddie Brock crossover, but rather a story about Batman fighting against a new super drug that gives its users super strength and causes madness. Venom is the drug Bane takes to go from a normal human to a monster among men. 

In this sequel to the "Son of the Demon" storyline, we continue the nuanced relationship between Batman and the "League of Assassins" leader Ra's Al Ghul. The ongoing rivalry between both men stands out as one of the most intriguing parts of the expansive DC Universe. If you're interested in seeing where Ra's Al Ghul made his grand debut and the most diabolical plans he put in place to eliminate Batman, then this classic collection will certainly do the trick.

Some Batman stories are about the plot, some are about the villains, and some are on this list because of the art. This one falls into the last category as this modern Batman series features art done 100% in Black and White. The series really hits a home run in detailing and you will find yourself turning the pages slowly and admiring the art.

This 2008 Grant Morrison madness sees Batman face off against the "Black Glove" organization. This run of comics was maybe as popular for its covers (done by industry legend Alex Ross) as it is for the awesome story Morrison unfolds. This story also sees the ascension of Dick Grayson's Nightwing character taken to new heights, temporarily taking the Bat mantle.

With the sequel to this storyline already landing on the list, you know we had to include the original. Ra's Al Ghul is one of Batman's most formidable villains and this storyline really introduces a new reader to the character and his relationship with Batman. We see the effect a father figure can have on Batman. So much of the groundwork for later stories with Talia and Damian is laid here in this classic arc. 

This is one of my favorite graphic novels in all of comics as it features a character I am extremely bullish on front and center; that is, of course, Batman's son Damian Wayne. This story really is a proper intro to Damian after he debuted and is all about his foray into being his father's not-so-enthusiastic sidekick. 

Another epic Batman plotline follow-up graphic novel, this one came amidst the Snyder and Capullo "New 52" run and gave us the return of Batman's greatest villain: The Joker. The story crosses over into every "Bat Family" title and—while not as iconic as the original story it was inspired by—it's required reading for Batman fans. 

Batman vs Bane! This classic matchup has been depicted several times in live-action, animated form, and in the pages of the comics, but it originates right here. While not the first Bane appearance, this story arc features one of Batman's hardest trials due to that iconic back-breaking scene, in which Bane breaks Bruce Wayne's back.

This story has a little bit of everything from mystery to murder. The sequel to the popular "Long Halloween" story, this murder mystery features a new villain and some familiar foes as Batman tries to stop a serial killer from devastating Gotham. 

This story is the follow-up to the popular "Year One" storyline we will cover later and tells the origin of the first meeting of Batman and his arch nemesis the Joker. The title is an homage to the classic film of the same title, which the character the Joker takes inspiration from. 

This Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo classic is less about Batman and more about the man who keeps Batman up at night: the Joker. The story uses a third party to really illustrate the thinking and morality of the clown prince of Gotham and is a great self-contained story to read for anyone who can't get enough Joker. 

You really can't take a hard look at the totality of Batman graphic novels on the market and not acknowledge the impact of the Batman Adventures series. The comic that was inspired by the Bruce Timm and Paul Dini animated show was a big hit with kid collectors in the 1990s and found relevance years later as those kids grew up and became the buying public. 

Furthermore, the Batman Adventures series features the debut and development of one of modern comics' most popular characters Harley Quinn. This story is a great intro for someone trying to get into Harley or who connected with Margot Robbie's character on the big screen and wants to know more about the origins of this character. The story delves into the "mad love" between the Joker and Harley as well as their tumultuous relationship with Batman. 

The "Black Mirror" story played out in the pages of Detective Comics and was the last story right before "Crisis" and the New 52 reboot that would go on to make writer Scott Snyder a household name among "The Dark Knight's" biggest fans. This detective story laid the groundwork for so many of the themes Snyder would later build upon. 

Batman is awesome in and of himself no doubt, but there are also iconic elements around Batman that make him the most popular comic character today. Things like major villains, his Bat Family associates, the city of Gotham as a whole and more really add to the Dark Knight's mythos. Maybe no background factor plays as much of a consistent role as the prison where Gotham's most vile villains are held: Arkham Asylum. 

This prison has been the inspiration for film, TV, video games, and animated features as it often acts as a character in and of itself, filled with a who's who of Batman villains. Also, for those Batman fans who love Grant Morrison's signature manic style, this is the writer's debut with the character and a real tone-setter for some of the stories to come after it. 

This classic early 2000s story is seeing a renaissance as it was declared as the inspiration for a 2019 animated feature. The story introduced us to the new villain Hush but also laid the groundwork for a potential romance between Batman and Catwoman, one that has been heavily explored in recent years by Batman writer Tom King. 

This is one of my personal favorite Batman stories and the story to read now once you've gotten your first taste of Robert Pattinson's run as Goham's protector in The Batman film. This story inspires both that film (along with "Year One") as well as an upcoming animated feature. Much more of a detective story than most, this graphic novel is a mystery that plays out like an episode of Law and Order set in Gotham City. A whole cast of villains appears as Batman tries to figure out who is at the hands of some gruesome murders in Gotham. 

In the very first arc in the rebooted "New 52" from 2011, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo did something that many people thought was impossible in reinventing the world of this 70-plus-year-old superhero by adding the element of "The Court of Owls." This story arc was an instant hit and sent back issue prices skyrocketing. The storyline has inspired multiple retellings in animated form as well as on the TV Series Gotham. The secret society has been totally integrated into Gotham's lore. This is maybe the most modern of any of the truly iconic Batman stories. 

This is the original "Death in The Family" storyline that set comic book newsstands on fire. The Jim Starlin classic allowed fans to vote on the fate of its characters, resulting in the brutal death of a member of the Bat Family at the hands of the Joker. This death would forever change Batman and also set Jason Todd on the path to becoming the cult classic antihero Red Hood in the 2000s. 

We really can't take a deep dive into Batman graphic novels without looking at this classic retelling of Batman's origin. This story arc has been the inspiration for so much that we have seen on film and really reset Batman on a clear path when the arc debuted on newsstands in the 1980s. It gives context to the anger and drive Bruce Wayne feels and shows the events that set him on his path as well as how the young Bruce reacted to them. It seems like this will continue to be a storyline that Hollywood will pull from when looking at Batman's origin as a base for their storytelling. 

This is THE Batman story I would recommend to anyone who isn't a big comic reader who is looking for a self-contained Batman narrative. This one was originally an "Elseworlds" story and has really become a part of the Batman mythos over the years. I think this is a great jumping-on point for a generation who grew up with Christian Bale and Ben Affleck as their Batman, as both film franchises are set largely in the world of The Dark Knight Returns. This dark and brooding Batman was a departure from the campy detective of the past and has resonated with a whole generation of movie-goers. What a lot of people don't realize is the man who wrote this classic, Frank Miller, is also the man responsible for cross-genre hits like Sin City and 300. 

This is the quintessential Batman vs. Joker storyline. This is especially recommended to those who have read or watched many Batman—or specifically Batman vs. Joker stories—as this graphic novel added nuance and perspective to the relationship that had never been seen before. This story begs the question: "Is Batman really a good guy? The ending will leave you guessing and probably arguing, what happened? Did he kill him? Arrest him? Who knows. And I kind of like the mystery about it. Also for DC animated fans, there is an animated feature of the Killing Joke, but viewers beware as they changed some details of this classic storyline and received backlash from Killing Joke die-hards, so do not simply skip the source material in favor of the easier watch.